Othello Read Online Free PDF Page B

Men. Scholars are divided as to whether the Folio-only passages, which include Othello’s “Pontic sea” speech and Desdemona’s willow song, are theatrically purposeful additions or theatrically pragmatic cuts. We respect the integrity of the Folio text, but in correcting its manifest errors—which are many, largely due to the presence of “Compositor E,” the apprentice who was the poorest of the Folio’s typesetters—we have been greatly helped by the existence of the Quarto.

THE TRAGEDY OF
OTHELLO,
THE MOOR OF VENICE

LIST OF PARTS
    OTHELLO , the Moor (a general in the military service of Venice)
    BRABANTIO (a senator) father to Desdemona
    CASSIO , an honourable lieutenant
    IAGO , a villain (Othello’s flagbearer)
    RODORIGO , a gulled gentleman
    DUKE of Venice
    SENATORS
    MONTANO , Governor of Cyprus
    LODOVICO , noble Venetian (kinsmen of Brabantio)
    GRATIANO , noble Venetian (kinsmen of Brabantio)
    SAILORS
    CLOWN (servant to Othello)
    DESDEMONA (daughter of Brabantio) wife to Othello
    EMILIA , wife to Iago
    BIANCA , a courtesan
    (Officers, Messenger, Herald, Musicians and Attendants)

Act 3 Scene 1
running scene 7
    Location: Cyprus (governor’s residence/citadel)
    Enter Cassio, Musicians , Clown
    CASSIO    Masters, play here: I will content your pains 1 :
     Something that’s brief, and bid ‘Good morrow,
    Music
    general.’
    CLOWN    Why masters, have your instruments been in
      Naples 4 , that they speak i’th’nose thus?
    MUSICIAN    How 5 , sir? How?
    CLOWN    Are these, I pray you, wind instruments?
    MUSICIAN    Ay, marry, are they, sir.
    CLOWN    O, thereby hangs a tail 8 .
    MUSICIAN    Whereby hangs a tale, sir?
    CLOWN    Marry, sir, by many a wind instrument 10 that I know.
     But, masters, here’s money for you: and the
    Gives money
         general so likes your music that he desires you, for love’s 12
     sake, to make no more noise 13 with it.
    MUSICIAN    Well, sir, we will not.
    CLOWN    If you have any music that may not be heard, to’t
     again: but, as they say, to hear music the general does not
     greatly care.
    MUSICIAN    We have none such, sir.
    CLOWN    Then put up 19 your pipes in your bag, for I’ll away: go,
     vanish into air, away!
    Exeunt Musicians
    CASSIO    Dost thou hear me, mine honest friend?
    CLOWN    No, I hear not your honest friend: I hear you.
    CASSIO    Prithee keep up thy quillets 23 . There’s a
    Gives money
         poor piece of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman 24 that attends
     the general be stirring 25 , tell her there’s one Cassio entreats
     her a little favour of speech: wilt thou do this?
    CLOWN    She is stirring, sir: if she will stir hither, I shall seem 27
     to notify unto her.
    Exit Clown
    Enter Iago
    CASSIO    In happy time 29 , Iago.
    IAGO    You have not been a-bed, then?
    CASSIO    Why, no: the day had broke
     Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago,
     To send in to your wife: my suit to her
     Is that she will to virtuous Desdemona
     Procure me some access.
    IAGO    I’ll send her to you presently 36 ,
     And I’ll devise a mean 37 to draw the Moor
     Out of the way, that your converse and business
     May be more free.
    Exit
    CASSIO    I humbly thank you for’t.— I never knew
      A Florentine 41 more kind and honest.
    Enter Emilia
    EMILIA    Good morrow, good Lieutenant: I am sorry
     For your displeasure 43 , but all will sure be well.
     The general and his wife are talking of it,
     And she speaks for you stoutly: the Moor replies
     That he you hurt is of great fame 46 in Cyprus
     And great affinity 47 , and that in wholesome wisdom
     He might not but refuse you: but he protests he loves you
     And needs no other suitor 49 but his likings
     To bring you in again.
    CASSIO    Yet, I beseech